Scratchings-and-Sniffings

What do Veterinarians think of Pet Health Insurance?

I must have had over one hundred conversations with veterinarians or veterinary technicians over the last three days. I was representing PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance at the recently ended Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas. I have a good sense of what veterinarians and their staff are thinking about pet health insurance. My conclusions?

Everyone I talked to thinks that the time has come to get behind pet health insurance. Veterinarians and their staff cannot sell insurance but their recommendation has great weight with clients.

Vets and their staff do have concerns, mind you. When they go out on a limb and recommend a particular provider they are in a sense endorsing that company and if that company provides poor service to the veterinarian's client, they are the first to hear about it.

When should you insure a pet?

As most readers know, my dog Darcie is pushing 18 years of age. For an 18 year old she's pretty healthy. She can't see too well. She can't hear much and she doesn't like to take long walks like she used to. But hey, if I'm doing as well as Darcie when I'm 126 I'll be very happy. Like I'm going to make it that long.

Darcie's biggest problem is probably chronic pain from arthritis in her cervical spine. She can't go down steps very well so she doesn't sleep in our bedroom with us anymore. She can still go up steps, just not down because going down involves extending her neck to see the steps and that's too painful for her.

To have a veterinarian diagnose and treat this problem would probably involve several hundred dollars of radio-graphs, MRI's, other lab tests and the expense of lifelong pain medication.

Too bad Darcie doesn't have insurance.

PurinaCare Ribbon Cutting in San Antonio

Today was a big day for PurinaCare Pet Health Insurance. We had the ribbon cutting ceremony in the brand new corporate HQ in San Antonio Texas.

We had a corporate jet load of dignitaries from St Louis where Purina is headquartered. Terry Block, the  President of Purina North America and David Goodnight, DVM the PurinaCare CEO, spoke before the assembled troops and the local San Antonio media.

Terry spoke about Purina's commitment to bringing simple, comprehensive, pet health insurance to market and using Purina's relationship with literally millions of pet owners to help spread the word about PurinaCare.   

Why I Wish I had pet insurance

Way back when I was a veterinary assistant (I mean, waaayyy back - I was among the first graduating class in NY State), there was a lot of talk about pet insurance, but no one actually bought it. Even folks who doted on their pets the way we all do today, didn't believe in pet insurance.

I don't remember if it was because the cost was too high, or if it just didn't cover enough problems, or what. I do remember that I thought it was a good idea. The vet I worked for laughed. I wonder if he's laughing now.

Because pet insurance is slowly becoming a must-have item for pet owners. I sure wish I had it. Carmel and Wabby are too old for it now. They have "pre-existing conditions"... and just like people insurance, I'm pretty sure pet insurance doesn't cover that. Still, I think companies offering pet insurance are looking at it as a benefit for long-term health care. And some emergency conditions.

Like the emergency this past weekend with Carmel. I guess it wasn't a true emergency. She wasn't in danger of death, or anything. She was acting fine. Even eating fine. But... she was definitely having trouble... defecating. In fact, she had several "accidents" in the house, even when we were here to let her out. When I braved a look under her tail, I saw swollen anal glands and a trace of blood. That sent the red flag up. It was off the vet, right away.

They expressed her anal glands - that's happening a lot, lately. And they gave us anti-biotics and pain meds, to help her get better faster. All to the tune of $131 dollars (oh, yeah, that included a peticure... I always like to have them cut her nails when she's there.).

So... IF we'd had pet insurance, I think some of that cost would have been covered.

Mind you, there was no hesitation in taking her, regardless of the cost (though I wasn't prepared for a bill that was over $100...oh well). I just wondered, "If we'd had pet insurance for you, Carmie, I could use the extra money to buy you new treats."

Pet insurance - definitely something to think about. I think I'll ask my daughter if she's considering it for her new puppy.

Pets in Peril?

Hope your day is brighter than mine. It's raining cats and dogs here. I guess that's better than snow - the like of which hit our neighbor to the west over the weekend. I'm sure you're all aware of the storm of the decade that levelled Buffalo, NY. My daughter took some neat pics. This one of a tree in her front yard shows the real effects of this sudden, unexpected Oct. storm. If you look closely, you can see how the snow is attacking the tree. It makes me shiver just to look at it!

But, more than this...I have been wondering (as I wondered during the Katrina disaster) - what about the pets? We haven't seen any news coverage about the animals affected by this storm. People were relocated to shelters, but - what happened to the cats and dogs and other pets? I think mostly about dogs and cats because they seem most connected to us. I know people with birds and other pets are just as attached, though.

I have a friend, met via the blogosphere, who is an animal lover like myself. She has a site that explains pet insurance. I am contemplating pet insurance because my dog and cat are getting on in years, and I anticipate needing to take them to the vet more often, as they age. I don't know if pet insurance covers old age issues, but, I'm going to find out. And, when this whole business with the storm in Buffalo happened, I stopped to wonder if pet insurance would cover the effects of such a disaster?

What do you think? When we humans are levelled by mother nature, and we have to relocate to protect ourselves, what can we do about our beloved pets? Is there, or should there be, insurance to cover taking them to a kennel? What if all the kennels are demolished in a flood, or hurricane, or if they're inaccessible? What then? Does the Humane Society step in? Here's some information I found at our local Lollypop Farm on Disaster Preparedness.

These two points really made me stop and think:

• Always keep a collar and tag on those animals that should normally wear collars. This includes cats that never go outdoors. During a disaster an animal can escape and a collar and tag increases your chances of getting the animal back. On the tag, include your phone number and address. You may want to consider tattooing or micro chipping your animals as a more permanent form of identification.



• Talk to your veterinarian to see if he/she has a disaster plan. Your animal may need medical attention after a disaster has struck and you need to know where to take your animal. Keep a first aid kit and first aid book in your disaster kit for your animals.

So, what are your thoughts on pet-care during a disaster? Should pet insurance, which is still in its infancy as a service, cover the cost of kenneling pets during a flood or hurricane, etc? Or, should it stick with its intent - to cover limited health care costs?

How should we pet-parents prepare for the unexpected - since it is unexpected? I'm leaning toward having a good disaster plan, both for family and pets. Send along your advice. We're eager to hear it.